I'm confused. Not trolling you.

You're saying GOTG was a no brainer until Lonnie became a part of it?

Then you say AS has the same rules as KISS? I've heard that before. Not sure AS is a more polished KISS based on what I've read tho. I can't judge for myself however since I don't own both games.

Aerosmith doesn't have the same rules as KISS. It has SOME similarities, but it's not the same. However, KISS is still a more complete experience between two VERY similar layouts for now.

Almost. That was my point. I know it's splitting hairs, but you can never get it truly identical once removed.

Just play better.

Now plz back to speculating about the upcoming My little Pony Pinball.

Yeah thats what I hear... "KISS is better balanced, more complete"

(I dig the shit out of my Aerosmith)

In what way?

Kiss is one of the ugliest pin out there. There is no match with AS.

Scoring is more balanced in KISS. More variety of callouts. More sound effects tied to events/switches. Kiss also has more multiball modes (Lovegun, Demon, KISS Army, Heavens on Fire, Rock City) than AS. KISS doesn't have programming issues that consistently affect score like losing time off the clock if you're unlucky enough to hit the scoop on the left and get an extra ball in AS. That animation kills 10 seconds on the clock with no way to bypass it. I also think KISS is harder overall. AS will get there in the end, but who knows when that will be?

The best thing about AS is the Elevator Multiball start. I never bypassed it, even once. Great integration on that. A lot of the other stuff got old.

have you never played rolling stones?

jonesjb that sounds excellent. could travel through the different kid characters or versions of the monster, map of the sewers in the playfield. could be cool

Surprised there hasn't been any info leaked on this yet... Are they announcing their next game at the expo in two weeks?

Funny they said the same thing with Star Wars

There's leaked, and then there's leaked widely.

So it seems more likely now that there will be no new game info at Expo. Sounds like they may need to slow down releases now that they are Short 1 game designer. I would actually expect that this could push up a Vault game sooner, e.g. Tron, to help spread out the development effort across the team.

Hasn't Tron been the 2018 VE rumour for a while now? AC/DC & Tron are the only two titles that have been selling over their NIB prices for the last couple years, now AC/DC has been done this year, Tron seems to logical next VE.

Although I would love to see TSPP rerun as a VE.

The used prices on TSPP aren't really in vault territory, though. If they DO vault TSPP, I would love a ROM update that allows you to disable the "D'oh" in the mode where Homer keeps doing it.

TSPP is more wishful thinking on my part more than anything else.

AC/DC & TRON are the two that make the most sense due to used prices being higher than NIB, which now leaves TRON as the only obvious next choice.

Tron with Metallic looking decals [like IMVE and Mustang LE], ramp lights, etc. and I might be in on one after just having sold my Tron a few months ago.
I doubt they make it but who knows.

I really wish Iron Maiden info would leak.

Wow....TSPP would definitely generate some excitement wouldn't it?

I'd be in line for one!

Thing is after TRON VE, what's the next title going to be? MET VE seems too soon, AC/DC & TRON where the two titles that where selling over their NIB prices, so it TRON does come next year there's no other titles demanding more than new in the used market.

LOTR is popular still but there where a lot of those made, Simpsons is still popular and current, another SM (homecoming/MCU) VE, other titles like CSI, 24 have seen their best years behind them, although they could be re-themed vault editions similar to BM66 just without the silly price tag.

Only if they convert to spike 2 with all the great graphics on the new display. It will definitely get them a ton of sales. I would buy it to replace mine.

Didn't they have a LotR running on a Spike machine when they were testing? An updated LotR and TSPP would probably sell really well.

More Iron Man after that?

What is the build date of yours and do you have a picture of the flippers? I want to see if I need to adjust mine or if perhaps mine is the later build already adjusted.

This whole vault edition from Stern is interesting and concerning...

I think it is a slap in the face to the core supporters of Stern. These early adopter customers preorder and purchase new machines at launch, some sight unseen thus supporting Stern. When these machines sell out hopefully they retain some of their value. Allowing them to be sold and other new machines purchased for those early adopters. I am new here and from what I've seen NOT a lot of these machines rise in value.

I collect another form of art that is numbered and literally sells out in hours. These pieces are thousands of dollars too and sometimes take several years to be delivered. They are often sold for more than double shortly after preorder closes and sometimes more when the piece launches. One somewhat popular company thought it would be a good idea to sell another version after launch called a "Warehouse Gem" well it diluted the market on their pieces and drove away a substantial amount of their base customers. Their pieces now take several days and sometimes weeks to sell out. From what I hear they are literally just making it month to month to stay open now when they were one of the leaders in their space

I only have 3 machines in my collection. My first was a Gorgar then very shortly after I purchased a NIB Stern Metallice Pre, I would have bought the LE but they were long sold out... I missed out... I just recently dropped some serious coin on a Tron LE and I am planning on preordering/purchasing a GOTG LE when they announce, sight unseen.

I have to say if they re-release Tron I will not be buying anymore new Stern machines. ever....

/rantoff

It's not like you buy many as is. So coming out with a from premium would be great for everyone except you

When they run out of modern Sterns that make economic sense to do vaults on I sure hope they try doing a few classic Sterns like Stargazer for instance.

BBH VE with a smoother, quieter Buck and interactive gun mode.

As long as pinball manufacturers are still in business, I'm happy. Vault editions are fine with me.\
I would love to see a TZ and Funhouse remake.

These games aren't investments, they are meant to be played and enjoyed. I have TWD, GOT, AS, and GB. I could care less if they make remakes of every one of those games. My games will still be as fun as ever if they remake them in VE models someday. I like it because it gives people a chance to buy a game that they missed out on.

I think you should sell your Tron because you are into pinball for the wrong reason.

Rob

100% agree with Rob here. Attitudes like this are what turn people off from the hobby. Pinball is taking a wrong turn when an arcade machine is seen as an investment. When people feel slighted because others now get to experience a game like tron, and now their pristine wooden box is worth a few dollars less.... That's just sad.

Even if remakes are made, it's not like the value of the original is going to drop by 50% overnight. I think IMVE was probably a good success for Stern and it allowed alot of others to get a chance to own this wonderful game. VE or not, many games hold value well and that's pretty darn good!

Rob

pathetic

I must say I'm like Scrooge McDuck because I could not live without my "Vault Editions."

It's been years since I was able to make a Duck Tails reference.

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You may think my comments are pathetic and you are entitled to your educated opinion. My opinion still stands that Stern will damage their core early adopters/supporters on their new games. I think those customers will wait to purchase or not purchase at all after feeling slighted. I've seen it in other categories all too often when a company is thinking they are helping the community that missed out or more likely they are looking to add another revenue stream.

It will hurt the company as a whole as they will not generate that initial revenue on new products...

I'm not looking to make money on my machines (there are far more profitable categories to collect than pinball) but I would like them to hold some value and not bottom out. I feel the majority of people feel this way too.

Doublestack, I did not use the word "investment". I would like my machines to retain some sense of value over time not to be impacted by the company reissuing. These machines are not +20 years old... I would be interested in purchasing your StarTrek or Walking Dead for $2K since you think these machines should not hold value after purchase.

Goronic, I'l buy your Hobbit for $2k since you are feeling so generous too...

/Love the Scrooge McDuck!!! LoL

I just brought a NIB Tron LE, for more than its NIB cost, before I brought it I had heard strong rumours Tron will be the 2018 title to see a Vault Edition release, honestly that didn't put me off at all.

I wanted an original and I wanted an LE, if the VE is awesome or has an updated LCD I may even buy one of those, so I would disagree VE releases will damage any of Sterns core custom.

What will damage Sterns core custom/supporters is continued radio silence, lack of communication and minimal to non existent code support, VE so far seem to be a success with us as customers and for Stern as a whole.

Nothing about generosity - it is the market. If the market deems the Hobbit is 2k then when (and if) I sell it will be 2k. However, for the sake of argument JJP does a code update after JJP stops building them that puts TH in the top 5 - it could start selling for HUO 12K+. Then I could either sell TH then at that price - or JJP may make more later (e.g. remake/VE) and the NIB cost goes back down to 9K, and therefore the used pin I have would likely be lower than the NIB. Again...market price.

The good news is that I would have a great pinball machine and others are able to own or route a great pinball machine. Win Win Win. Simple, and similar to the TRON story.

Edit: And I would not fault JJP for making more.

I know guys who will pass on a pin they have been after for years because its 200 more than the going rate, or guys that will wait months to get the asking price when then sell or that worry about the pin retaining its value, that's cool and that's one kind of collector, I'm the other, must have it to hell with the 200 dollars, when selling I don't want people in my house trying the game and spotting ridiculous crap looking for a deal so I sell at a price knowing it will move fast, most likely less than what I paid, buy high and sell low which is stupid but it works for me as the cost of dealing with buyers and sellers sucks so much I just don't care about the loss. Oh yeah.

It doesn't hurt Stern at all. Pinheads buy what they like and those that own an original AC/DC or whatever will just sell their original game and buy a vault edition if it intrigues them enough. Like I said, I LOVE the vault editions because there are games that I have missed out on that I would love to own someday. I say bring them on!

Damn right, now hurry up Stern with my TSPP VE

If Gary is a god...

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What we see and what history has shown is that the vault edition has not destroyed the value of a machine. They are still worth a decent sum in both IM and ACDC. The only people that seem to complain about a vault are those that now may not have a desirable object that has become double the purchase price. This is how I understood your statement about vault games. I used the word "investment" because that's what it appears we are talking about.

IM is still a 4500-5400 game. I'd be happy if my 7 yr old game is still worth 4500, easily over its purchase price. Those that throw a fit are the ones that wish it was worth 6k again. Sometimes its never enough.

Agreed, I even said this exact thing to Gary at CES

How about a new version called The Night Gallery which was after TZ show.